"Chloe Sementre," Said Foaly. "Where are you? Chloe Semechreloh, Chloe Semedracone, Chloe Semeont, It just skips right over her! There are no files about her, she doesn't seem to exist!"
"Explain to me how she doesn't exist if we just saw her?!" Said Holly. Artemis, Butler, Holly, Juliet, and Mulch, were at a bar table trying to find out who Chloe Sementre was. "Her file doesn't exist, I uploaded her picture on the computer and I found no matches. Whoever this girl is, she knows how to hide herself." Foaly said from Holly's helmet. Artemis stood up. "Then Foaly, if she does not exist on your records, I shall have to see if she exists on mine. Butler, with me. There is something I need to check in the Bentley." Artemis left with Butler at his shoulder.
"Hmph." Hmphed Foaly. "What does he expect to find? If there's anything that can be found my sensors will find it."
"The mud boy has hacked your supposedly unhackable computer, if you can't find it, he can." Holly snapped.
"No respect." Said Foaly. Turning to his computer. Then something caught his attention. A blinking alert on his computer. Clicking on it he opened it up. Symbols spiraled around one word. "Holly, you need to see this." Said Foaly. "Then send it to me donkey-boy!" Snapped Holly. "I just did." Replied Foaly. Holly put on her helmet and opened up the file that had been newly sent by Foaly. Her eyes widened as she read the word. "What?" Asked Juliet. "What is it?" "An emergency." Said Holly. Jumping out of the seat and changing back into elf form. "We need to get Artemis right away."
"Should I be worrying about what we going to retrieve Artemis?" Butler asked.
"No Butler," replied Artemis. "I am simply retrieving my computer. Though it might have been unwise to leave only Juliet with our fairy friends."
Butler inwardly rolled his eyes. Juliet was likely to get into a fight with Mulch, but she would be helpful nevertheless.
When they reached the Bentley, Butler performed the usual bomb checks on the car. Artemis turned around, facing the building they had just left. Their was more than one reason that Artemis had come to the talent show. He had had a sneaking suspicion that the results would hold something more than just a contest. Something related to the note. He pulled out a folded paper from his breast pocket.
Dear friend, the stories that you have caused to be written have performed a dent in time and space. A dent that I would like to make deeper. You have covered territory that has never been covered before. I am not talking about the fairies. In another dimension, you are merely a fantasy, an illusion,a hoax. I want to change that, and I believe I have found a way to. We will meet again, of that I am sure.
And then three words on the other side.
Practice Home Gone
Artemis believed that practice meant practice for the Talent show additions, and that home meant Fowl manor, but gone, he had no idea what it meant. Perhaps it was simply showing that the other words were gone. But Artemis doubted it. Gone meant something, just something he couldn't comprehend.
"Artemis!" Artemis looked up from the note, quickly folding it and planning it back into his breast pocket.
During this motion he was so anxious that Holly not see the letter that he didn't notice the tiny prick of a dart.
"Artemis!" Gasped Holly. "Thank goodness."
"What has happened Holly?" Artemis asked.
Butler strode over to Artemis's side.
"We received a message from someone. It's important to Chloe Sementre.
Artemis's heart skipped a beat.
"Show me." Then, turning to Butler. "You have my computer I presume?"
"Right here Artemis." Said Butler, passing the silver case to Artemis. Artemis took it and then followed Holly with Butler at his side.
Foaly was in a state of shock.
"Holly."he whinnied over the helmet microphone. "You have Artemis with you?"
"Yes Foaly." Confirmed Holly. "Now explain to him what's happening."
"Very well," said Foaly. "We received a message from Chloe. It said one word. Gone.
Artemis started. That word again.
He shook himself. Merely a coincidence. Chloe hadn't written the note. He had received it before she met him.
Artemis opened the computer and turned it on. He was greeted with a tab.
"Foaly, I think I have received the next message." Artemis said.
"What?" Holly leaned over his shoulder.
Artemis clicked on the tab. This one contained two words.
Home
Now
Something clicked on Artemis's brain. Chloe had sent the note. And now was the time for action.
"We have to get to Fowl manor immediately." Said Artemis. Shutting the computer and picking it up. "Now." He said. Striding to the door.
"What about the show?"Juliet whined.
Butler glared at her and followed Artemis. Holly sighed and followed suit, along with Juliet and Mulch.
Artemis sat inside the Bentley, willing it to go faster. Suddenly his vision flashed and he saw a book cover with a picture of himself holding the fairy book. Then just as quickly it disappeared. Artemis blinked. He must focus on the task at hand, before life as they all knew it, was gone.